Zimbabwe Wildlife Conservation & Community Adventure

Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport where your Zimbabwean safari experience begins! Transfer to the Batonka Guest Lodge near the mighty and majestic Victoria Falls.

One of the greatest attractions in Africa and one of the “7 Wonders of the World” Victoria Falls presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty located almost along with the halfway point of the Zambezi River, between Zambia and Zimbabwe.   This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be the world’s largest waterfall, based on its combined width of 5,604 feet and height of 354 feet.  Also, known as  “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, the smoke that thunders, Victoria Falls can be heard from a distance of 25 miles, while it’s columns of spray and mist can be seen as far away as 31 miles.   A path along the edge of the forest provides the visitor prepared to brave the tremendous spray, unparalleled views of the Falls.

Activities:

• Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport and transfer to Batonka Guest Lodge
• Relax at your leisure
• Dinner

Included: Bed & Dinner and shuttle into Victoria Falls Town

Batonka Guest Lodge is set in lush gardens, a tranquil haven and the perfect place to unwind and relax after your flight.  Situated away from the bustle of Victoria Falls town, but is within easy walking distance of the main attractions; and is renowned for exceptional service. 

After breakfast, you will depart for Victoria Falls town where you will be taken on a private guided immersive tour of Victoria Falls. “The smoke that thunders” remains one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world.  

You and choose how to spend the rest of your day enjoying Victoria Falls Town,  or return to Batonka Guest Lodge to lounge by the pool or relax in the garden. Shuttles to and from town are available.  

Activities Included: 

• Guided Tour of Victoria Falls 
• Breakfast 
• Lunch or Dinner,  you choose.  
• Time on your own to explore and enjoy Victoria Falls Town.  

Optional activities that can be added on at an additional cost: 

• A sunset cruise along the Zambezi River!  On the mighty Zambezi River, you will be treated to views of wildlife in an along the river.  If you’re lucky, this will be your first sighting of Elephants, Hippos, and Crocodiles!      

About the Painted Dog:

Painted Dogs were once common in Africa with estimates of over half a million animals across thirty-nine countries.  Zimbabwe is physically connected to most countries, in which the highly endangered Painted Dog still has viable populations.  As such, it is an important link between packs as individuals disperse.  Though there are thought to be somewhere between 4-6,000 of these animals left in the wild, through the diligent work of Dr. Greg Rasmussen of the Painted Dog Research Trust Zimbabwe, and other individuals, these animals have begun to make a comeback in this country.   

Painted Dogs are highly social with strong familial bonds. They are one of the few examples of a species that cares for their sick and elderly. Pack members care for injured individuals, bringing them food until they are well enough to travel. Elderly animals stay with the pack and are cared for their entire lives, even after they can no longer hunt. Often, a "doctor" dog is assigned as a caretaker, regurgitating food, cleaning wounds, and caring for pack members until they are strong enough to keep up. 

  Painted dogs are completely in sync with each other and in balance with their environment. Their community is one that humans should strive to emulate. Under natural circumstances, they have everything they need to survive within their pack.  But in today's world, they need help.  Humans are their only real predator and the main threat to their survival. ​ 

Starting in the 1800s, painted dogs were viewed as vermin and mercilessly hunted. Today, they are extinct in many countries. They cannot defend themselves against habitat loss, road kills, diseases spread by domestic dogs or wire snares set by poachers for bush meat. 

Enjoy early morning tea or coffee on your private veranda overlooking the grounds of Batonka Lodge followed by breakfast in the main dining room. Today we depart Victoria Falls and begin making our way to Hwange National Park with an exciting and engaging stop along the way! 

After breakfast, meet your driver and depart for the Painted Dog Research Trust Center, where you will be met by Founder, Dr. Greg Rasmussen, the Center’s Staff, and some graduate students. Here you will spend the morning of Learn, Serve, and Immerse activities that include fieldwork to help benefit the conservation of this rare species. You will also have the opportunity to engage in a project that will benefit the Tegwani Trust Primary School, the first-of-a-kind school with a conservation-centric curriculum. 

About the Painted Dog Research Trust, Zimbabwe 

With research as the guiding tool, the Painted Dog Research Trust is dedicated to the conservation of the highly endangered Painted dog also known as the African Wild Dog. This work has been ongoing for 25 years by the founder Dr. Greg Rasmussen, thus making it one of the longest studies into the species. The mission of the Painted dog research trust is to both continue with research into the highly endangered painted Dog and build for the future of conservation by meaningfully incorporating Zimbabwean graduate students to build local capacity and tomorrow's conservationists. Painted Dog Research is based just outside Victoria falls and situated in a landscape mosaic of National parks, forestry, private safari area, and communal lands where it is intended stakeholder benefits will accrue. 

Activities: 

• Breakfast at Batonka Lodge  
• A morning of conservation activities with the Painted Dog Research Trust  
• Road Transfer to Northern Hwange National Park, picnic lunch, and game drive along the way to Nehimba Lodge 
• Dinner in the evening for a traditional Zimbabwean 'braai' out under the stars at Nehimba lodge with the possibility of some very special guests! 

Included: Bed & Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner 

After the morning visit to the Painted Dog Research Trust, we embark by road to the Northern gate of Hwange National Park, and then board 4x4 vehicles for your first Safari! Lunch, drinks, and snacks will be provided en-route! 

For the next several days your family will enjoy daily safari activities and experiences from bush walks and game drives at various times of day learning about the wildlife and biodiversity of  Hwange National Park, led by some of the best guides in all of Africa!  Your family will also have the opportunity to meet and connect with people who live and thrive in communities around Hwange National Park!  

Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest National Park.  At 5600 square mile area, it supports a mix of habitats, a diverse area that is shared between desert-adapted and woodland species, ensuring large numbers of animals all year round. Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded.  The elephants of Hwange are world-famous and the park's elephant population is one of the largest in the world, they number upward of 45,000 in the park! 

Your family's adventure begins in northern Hwange National Park! Enjoy game drives and walks, exploring destinations including Nehimba Seep, which is an ancient source of water used by the San Bushmen historically as well as being a place where elephants still dig for water and minerals.

Included: Bed & Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Remotely nestled away on a huge private concession in the northern part of Hwange National Park, Nehimba Lodge combines luxury living, ultimate elegance, and African charm to provide you with an exceptional safari experience. Nehimba’s spacious canvas under thatch tents are built on teak decks and along with the guest area, overlooking the magnificent lodge pan, which is frequented by large numbers of elephants, particularly in the dry season.

No two days are the same at Nehimba and game viewing experiences are tailor-made to our guest’s preferences, including game drives, walking safaris, and night game drives on in search of nocturnal species of wildlife. Whether you choose to track a herd of elephants on foot with your highly trained guide at dawn or spend the afternoon relaxing overlooking the waterhole on the deck by the pool, this wild and unspoiled bush paradise will guarantee you leave with memories to last a lifetime! 

After breakfast, we will embark on our game drive through northern Hwange to Dete just outside the park. In Dete, you board the one-of-a-kind Elephant Express railcar for a unique and fun game viewing experience down to Bomani Tented Lodge, in the southeast corner of Hwange National Park in the Ngamo plains.  

Activities Include:  

• Morning Game Drive 
• Bush lunch in Hwange National Park 
• Late Afternoon Game Drive aboard the Elephant Express 
• Arrive at Bomani Tented Lodge 
• Relax at your leisure, followed by a delectable dinner out under the African sky. 

Included: Bed & Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

*Note The Elephant Express will be closed from January 9th – March 13th 2023. During this period a road transfer and game drive will replace it from Nehimba to Bomani Tented Lodge.   

Enjoy game drives and walks, exploring southern Hwange National Park, including the famed Ngamo Plains and Stoffie's Pan!

The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the park’s elephant population is one of the largest in the world.  Hwange is famed for its huge herds of elephants (they number upwards of 45,000 in the park!), but the Ngamo Plain attracts a variety of other animals including wildebeest, buffalo, kudu, waterbuck, and sable too. Predators are regularly spotted, especially lions, jackals, and cheetahs.

Activities include:

Various wildlife viewing activities include game drives, walks, and visits to hides at various times of the day. 

Visits to the local community that lives and thrives around Hwange National Park. 

Included: Bed & Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Situated on a 5000-acre private reserve within the Ngamo Forest Area , Bomani Tented Lodge is in a remote and exclusive area just outside Hwange National Park with great wildlife viewing all year around!   

At Bomani there are no rigid schedules and timetables for you, our guests. Instead we prefer to tailor your time around you – it’s your safari after all! Choose to be woken with coffee in bed, before joining your guide on a sunrise game drive inside the Park or, opt for a relaxing lie-in before visiting the nearby village and school for insight into the daily lives of the local people.   

Follow this is our suggestion of  all the amazing experiences you can enjoy over the next few days in southern Hwange NP!  

Included: Bed & Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Spend the afternoon on safari, en-route to our unique underground blind at Stoffie's Pan, where you will enjoy a bush lunch, and be at ground level enjoying the wildlife that comes to this unique watering hole.  Strategically positioned in the shade of a Leadwood tree and disguised as an antheap, the sheer thrill of sitting in our blind in safety and comfort close enough to elephant to count the cracks on their toe nails has surpassed every one of our expectations!.

Included: Bed & Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today is all about immersing and engaging with the local community around southern Hwange NP! Discover a day in the life of the local community and learn about their connection to nature and conservation programs!  

Embark on a visit to engage with people of Ngunyana Village, where you will meet the school kids and enjoy an early morning walk through the villages with the children to Ngamo school arriving in time to watch their assembly.   

Following that there will be an opportunity to visit the homestead of the community leader, and then engage in a cultural exchange that includes other community members.  

Then later in the afternoon, embark on a game drive and walk in Hwange National Park’s acacia forests surrounding Ngamo Plains, escorted by a fully licensed and experienced guide, who will share his knowledge and love of the bush with you. You will also visit the latest addition to the community the Ngamo Wildlife Sanctuary and Community Rhino Sanctuary.  

Activities Include:  

• Morning/Afternoon Game Drives 
• Opportunity to Immerse and Serve with local community village and school 
• Visit to Ngamo Wildlife Sanctuary and Community Rhino Sanctuary 

Included: Bed & Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

Enjoy your last morning sipping tea or coffee on your private deck as the sun rises over the river and the mist settles, and then breakfast on the main lodge deck, taking in the sights and sounds of your Zimbabwean safari one last time before your road transfer to Victoria Falls Airport to catch your departing flight!

Included: Breakfast

Enjoy this podcast featuring Global Family Travels, CEO & Founder, Jennifer Spatz and blogs about planning impactful African Adventures:

• How to Create Family Vacations that Combat global issues
• 4 Tips to Planning a meaningful Family Adventure to Africa